Huw

As Owner and Managing Director of the company I have a passion for travel. I have been working in the travel industry for over 30 years, at first in the Alps and the Med and now in our head office in Christchurch. When you work in the travel industry, every day is different, with new challenges and adventures arising all the time. Having visited Sicily a few times, it was the natural choice for our next destination after Sardinia. I particularly enjoyed my trip in October 2015 to Palermo when I was able to experience the cultural side of Sicily as well as the wonderful food, wine and picturesque coastline. I can’t wait to go back and see more of the island!

Alison

After founding the company with my husband Huw in 2000, I found myself working naturally in marketing through my love and in depth knowledge of Sardinia and Corsica. This stemmed from living in Sardinia for a couple of years and visiting Corsica many times and wanting to expand the English market to these stunning Mediterranean islands.

We have subsequently also expanded our collection to include Sicily which I have now visited a few times and toured extensively to offer our customers suitable hotels, villas, apartments and rural retreats throughout the island. I am involved in writing new accommodations, updating the websites and the marketing and PR for Just Sardinia, Just Corsica and Just Sicily.

Rob

In 2005, I moved to Corsica after having first visited the island in 1998 on holiday with my, then, fiancée. After having spent all my previous professional life in the property industry, I made a total career change and took a job as a representative of a UK tour operator, progressing through the following years to become that company’s island manager in 2010. In 2013 I met Huw and Alison and was offered an opportunity to help them create and develop the Just Corsica brand and, subsequently, the Just Sicily brand and my current role is the Overseas General Manager for the company, continuing to oversee and manage the evolution of all three of our products.

Over the last 10 years, I have had the opportunity to visit and get to know Sardinia and Sicily on many occasions and, whilst all have their own, distinct charm and allure, Corsica remains my favourite of the three ‘main’ islands we feature. However, I have a particular passion for the island of Elba which is an enchanting combination of the beauty and serenity of Corsica and the architecture and vibrancy of Tuscany but with the common, Napoleonic heritage. Whilst not the easiest destination to travel to from the UK, getting to Elba is well worth the effort and to stay at the superb Hotel Hermitage is an absolute pleasure!

Emma

I’ve been with the company since 2004 and currently manage our Administration Department. I was delighted when we decided to add Sicily to our collection being another Italian island I felt would suit our customers very well. I spent a week in Sicily in October 2013 touring the majority of the island in warm sunshine and aside from the culture what impressed me beyond my expectations in Sicily was the food - some of the best I’ve ever had. The Sicilian’s are incredibly passionate about sourcing the freshest local ingredients (many hotels grow their own) and make the most spectacular flavours. You definitely need to diet after a holiday in Sicily!

Debbie

My time with the company began with me 'helping out' for 2 weeks, which was in 2002. Over the years I have been lucky enough to see the company grow, meet some wonderful people, make some lifelong friends and visit Sardinia more times than I can remember. My job role has evolved so much, from Administration and Reservations to my current and longest role as Operations Manager. I love dealing directly with our lovely suppliers in Sicily along with Sardinia and Corsica, as well as my involvement in the product development, websites and marketing. Having visited Sicily several times now, I am enjoying getting to know the island better. I love how rich it is in history and culture yet it still has a beautiful coastline and a great selection of lovely beaches plus the food and wine are to die for! I have quite a few favourite hotels in Sicily but top of the list are the Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo in Taormina, a very special place, you can feel the history everywhere, a true 5 star hotel. La Scibina in Marina di Ragusa is a real gem, a labour of love and a real home from home.

Martin

I joined Just Sicily as Financial Controller in 2015 after spending nearly thirty years in similar positions in the Catering and Hospitality sector. As a long-time admirer of the Italian culture and way of life and regular visitor to the mainland, I am now enjoying discovering the beauty, diversity and laid back charm of both Sicily and Sardinia.

Aurora

I am from Sicily and I started to work at Just Sicily in April 2015, thinking that it would have been just a summer internship but now I know that those first 6 months were just the beginning. I started working in the Administration department before moving in to the Reservations department, ready to help you in choosing a holiday to Sicily.

My beloved island, so different both from Sardinia and Corsica, is full of contrasts: surprising views including green hills and blue sea; big cities and little old towns full of history; archaeological sites (how not to mention the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento) and nature reserves (Lo Zingaro, in the north west, or Mount Etna, the biggest active volcano in Europe, situated in the mid-east).

If you are looking for a city break, Palermo, where I come from, will surprise you. Just four places you cannot miss there: the impressive Cathedral, the stunning Teatro Massimo, the Arab-Norman itinerary (UNESCO heritage), which is the heart of the historical centre, and Mondello beach, just 15 minutes away from the city.

When I am in Sicily, I always try to have a walk around charming Cefalù, with its beautiful beach, Medieval Cathedral, its shops and good restaurants. If it’s a romantic getaway I want to plan, I always go to Taormina: unique and romantic, overlooking Mount Etna, it is a place you will fall in love with, especially at sunset. But my favourite part of the island is definitely the South: many baroque towns to visit (my favourites are Modica and Ragusa but I do love Noto and Scicli, too) and some lovely spread out beaches, like the one in Punta Secca (yes, the Montalbano one) and in Sampieri.

Last but not least, Sicily is famous for its food: fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, its delicious desserts (you cannot miss a taste of Cannoli or Cassata while you are there), the well renowned street-food in Palermo and excellent wines (just have a glass of white Insolia or red Sirah and Nero D’Avola).

Sicily has something to offer to everyone and I cannot wait to inspire you for your next holiday to my beloved island.

Elaine

I’ve been involved in the travel industry for over 20 years and in the Reservations Department here since 2007. I really value the in-depth knowledge of Sicily that I’ve acquired over the years and enjoy sharing this with anyone that will listen. My favourite place on the island is Taormina and the area around it - a great base to explore the northeast of the island with possible day trips to Mount Etna and the fertile countryside around and even over to the volcanic Aeolian Islands. Taormina itself is a really beautiful town with a great choice of bars and restaurants, stylish shops and a roman amphitheatre which hosts frequent opera / concerts. There are fabulous views of the coast in one direction and Mount Etna in the other and it’s possible to get the cable car down to the pebble beaches. If money no object, my favourite place to stay here is Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo - it has the most wonderful position with amazing views of the coast and Mont Etna, is within easy walking distance of all Taormina’s amenities and even has a secret entrance to the Roman Amphitheatre behind it! The service is impeccable, the rooms are beautifully finished in a grand Sicilian style and if you fancy a day on the beach, a complimentary shuttle bus will take you down to the beach at sister hotel Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea where you can use their facilities. rnrnI love eating in Sicily! The cuisine is more diverse than other places that I’ve been to in Italy with North African flavours influencing more traditional Italian dishes. The olive oil produced on the island is some of the most delicious I’ve ever tasted and the fresh fruits and veg that grow in the fertile volcanic earth and under the Sicilian sun are a world away from what I’m used to at home in the UK!

Roberto

I joined the reservations team in October 2022 after spending 10 years in the Hospitality sector. Due to covid I left the UK and went back to my favourite Island, Sicily is the best place in the world, where food culture and history mix to create this amazing place.

Smart work gives me the chance to be connected to UK and at the same time living in this beautiful island. Being with the company less than year but I can see how well the company is run and look forward to my future with the team.

Alison W

I joined Just Sardinia in November 2022 after moving to the Isle of Man and having to leave my previous job, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to work from home and excited to be back in the reservations environment. I love helping clients plan their holidays and sharing my knowledge of these fantastic Islands. My whole working life has been spent in travel, initially as a travel agent, in both leisure and business travel, and more recently in the commercial department of a UK Tour Operator. I have been fortunate to visit both Sardinia and Corsica a few times on familiarisation trips and absolutely love both Islands, I am very much looking forward to exploring Sicily on my upcoming trip next month, I was last there on holiday in 2002 but I am sure it probably hasn’t changed that much, which is definitely part of the charm!

I love the Italian way of life and had a fantastic holiday in Rome last year, whilst I have not yet been lucky enough to holiday on Sardinia, or Corsica, I have high hopes that will all change over the next year or so!

Becky

I joined the Just Sicily team in 2018 as an apprentice in the administration department. Having completed my apprenticeship with distinction, I am now a permanent member of staff working in both reservations and administration. One of my key roles is to look after our social media accounts which I have a passion for. I have a great interest in the industry and developing my knowledge of our destinations. I have visited the north east of Sardinia and experienced the incredible food and beautiful Caribbean like sea. I am looking forward to visiting Corsica and Sicily and experiencing the culture and history of these islands, oh and the stunning beaches!

Lucy

I started here helping out over the summer in 2005, since then I have worked in Administration and Reservations and now am busy in our Marketing and Operations department which varies day to day, keeping in contact with our suppliers overseas and ensuring our websites are up to date. I enjoy travelling with my family and my children are often, through play, found to be in Italy or France on holiday! Sicily is a beautiful island with stunning scenery, great food and lovely people.

Chris

I have been in the travel industry as a tour operator and travel agent now for just touching 50 years, so I have seen more islands than you can shake a stick at. As well as being a natural seller I have an eye for product, especially hotels, and detail. Having been responsible for specific areas like the Caribbean, Australasia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, plus Asia, I know how to match clients to the right island and the right hotel, apartment, villa or resort. My real experience is with high end holidays, yet realising what the word value means to different people. For me the appeal of Sardinia, Sicily and Corsica please me in different ways. I like the ruggedness of Corsica, the contrasts and elite of Sardinia and the rustic nature and history of Sicily. My real knowledge is deeply understanding how the travel industry works and how to serve the travel agent network around the country and am well known – whether that is a good or bad thing, they are the judge of that!

Our Resort Representatives

Our resort staff have been chosen for their wealth of local knowledge, expertise and love of the islands where they work. Every year we get together for our annual training weekend when we can catch up with feedback from the summer and improve our service to our customers.